LAFC holds serve against Cruz Azul, advance to CCC semifinals

It had to feel like the equivalent of going into the lion’s den.

Despite leading by three goals going into Tuesday’s second leg of its CONCACAF Champions League matchup with Cruz Azul, it was still a monumental task for LAFC to come out of Estadio Cuauhtémoc with the result needed to advance to the semifinals. In addition to Cruz Azul being the reigning CONCACAF Champions and also sitting in second place in Liga Mx, any MLS team going on the road to face a Liga Mx side, especially in a high stakes competition like the CONCACAF Champions Cup, will always been seen as the underdog.

Sure enough, Cruz Azul tried to use its home pitch to its advantage. Cruz Azul ended up with a possession rate of 77% to LAFC’s 29%, outshot LAFC 32-9, with nine of those shots directly at goal, and Cruz Azul got on the scoresheet first on Tuesday night. Despite all the odds going against them for most of the night, LAFC bent but did not break, as not only did they hold the line, but the added to its accomplishment, as they sealed its advancement in the tournament with the 1-1 draw.

Denis Bouanga accounted for LAFC’s lone goal in the match, as his penalty in stoppage time canceled out Gabriel Fernandez’s goal, which also came from the penalty spot, albeit it under rather dubious circumstances. However, the star of the night was LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris, who made eight saves in the match.

Cruz Azul was the aggressor from the start. Cruz Azul’s first great look came in the 15th minute, as Omar Campos sent a ball forward, the ball was deflected, but continued forward into the penalty area, the ball fell to Fernandez, who got his right foot on the shot, the ball took the kind of bounce that when inside the penalty area is a nightmare for keepers, but Lloris maintained his concentration, and parried the ball over the end line.

It was the ensuing corner that Cruz Azul got a break. Andres Montano sent the corner kick into the penalty area, a battle between Fernandez and LAFC’s Shane Palencia resulted in both players going to the ground, but referee Ivan Barton whistled Palencia for a foul and awarded Cruz Azul a penalty. The play was reviewed, and while it showed that not much contact occurred for a foul to be called, it was not enough to convince Barton to overturn his decision, the foul call stood, and Fernandez buried the penalty in the 18th minute.

With the LAFC deficit cut into, Cruz Azul quickly went back on the attack. Fernandez headed a Agustín Palavecino cross at goal, but Lloris calmly collected the ball. Then in the 28th minute, Campos crossed into the penalty area, but despite stretching his left leg out, was too late to connect with the cross, and the ball came back out of danger. Four minutes later, Palavecino played Montano into the penalty area, Montano lifted a ball over Lloris but the ball missed the far post. Lloris made his fourth save of the match in the 37th minute when he denied Palavecino inside the penalty area, but it was his fifth save that was perhaps his most impressive, as Campos curled a ball towards goal, but Lloris leaped and managed to get his left hand on the ball, parrying it over the crossbar.

Cruz Azul kept the pressure throughout the second half, but LAFC did not buckle. Lloris made another key save in the 73rd minute, as Montano played Carlos Rotondi forward, Rontondi took a left-footed shot, Lloris made the save and while he spilled the ball out, the damage was minimal, as LLoris quickly recovered and scooped back the ball. Lloris’ last big save came in the 89th minute, as Christian Ibere played a ball to Jose Paradela, who then back-heeled a ball forward, Palavecino snuck in behind LAFC’s Ryan Porteous to get to the ball leaving himself with just Lloris in front of him, Palavecino shot for the back post, but Lloris calmly made the save.

From that point on, the momentum swung back to LAFC. First LAFC got to finish the match a man up after Gonzalo Piovi was red-carded in the 92nd minute for a harsh tackle on Bouanga from behind, then a handball committed by Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta inside the penalty area sent LAFC to the penalty spot, and Bouanga converted to restore LAFC’s three-goal advantage and send then through.

Bouanga’s goal could actually pay dividends for LAFC in the semifinal round. LAFC is slated to play either Toluca or the LA Galaxy in the next round, Toluca currently holds the series advantage by winning 4-2 in the first leg, and if Wednesday’s second leg ends in a draw, LAFC could host the second leg of the series, which would be played during the period of May 5-7.

Until then, LAFC jumps back into MLS play on Sunday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes.